Sailor Admits Trying to Sell Secrets
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
A Navy machinist’s mate cried as he admitted trying to sell military secrets to Russia to pay off debts amassed from lavishing his new bride with gifts. But a Navy prosecutor said Kurt G. Lessenthien had been saving classified material for years, before he met his wife. Lessenthien, 30, pleaded guilty Sept. 20 to attempted espionage and failure to properly safeguard classified material. He faces up to life in prison.
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